Veterans Day celebrated at Flagler Auditorium

With more than 12,000 veterans living in Flagler County, recognizing their service has been a priority for leaders of the municipalities and the county. When COVID changed the traditional plans for Veterans Day, a collaboration brought together the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners, the Veterans Advisory Council, the City of Palm Coast and the Flagler Auditorium for a unique ceremony on Nov. 11.

Hosting the ceremony at the Flagler Auditorium, director Amelia Fulmer said holding the event at Flagler’s premiere performing arts venue has long been on her wish list, and when the opportunity arose, she embraced it with enthusiasm.

“I have been involved for years in the Veterans Day ceremonies as a music and choral teacher here in the county, so I always wanted to see if we could have the Veterans Day ceremony here at the Flagler Auditorium,” she said.

She worked with David Lydon, Veteran Services officer for Flagler County, to invite veterans from around the community to attend the ceremony, where patriotic presentations and performances marked the day.

“We thought this would be a great way to introduce the Flagler Auditorium back to the community and celebrate veterans,” said Lydon. “I think it went very well.”

Retired U.S. Marine and director of the Flagler Executive Airport Roy Sieger was presented with the 2020 Flagler County Col. Gary E. DeKay Veteran of the Year Award.

“It’s awesome. To even be eligible for this award you had to serve in the military. I served in the Marine Corps from 1984-2004 and then I found myself here, in this community, four years after that. I love Flagler County,” said Sieger, a co-founder of the annual patriotic Freedom Fest and active member of the Rotary Club of Flagler Beach.

Keynote speaker Florida Rep. Paul Renner said he’s inspired by those who serve, past and present, and return to their communities to continue being of service.

“It’s a neat group of folks to be a part of who continue to serve their community when they get back home in different ways. From being a ball coach, public service, or any number of ways, like Roy (Sieger), who is now serving as our director of the airport, has an amazing military career, and does so much for our community,” said Renner, a retired U.S. Navy commander.

Supported by both the Flagler Palm Coast High School Air Force JROTC and the Matanzas High School Army JROTC, it was especially meaningful for U.S. Navy veteran Frank Constantino, Color Corps commander for the Knights of Columbus Color Guard, to see respect paid by the next generation to those who have served.

“It’s always important for us to do patriotic events. Many of us are veterans and we would not miss a Veterans Day celebration,” he said. “I think today was done wonderfully, and we appreciate it.”

The City of Palm Coast hosted veterans for a drive-thru luncheon after the ceremony.

“We truly respect the veterans in our community for their service and sacrifice to our country,” said Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland.

“It is an honor for the city to be able to work with the local Flagler County Veterans Advisory Council and other veterans organizations in the area to honor and help support the thousands of veterans that call Palm Coast home. ‘Thank you’ will never be enough to honor their tremendous sacrifices that they have made in order for us to enjoy our freedoms. We must not only recognize them today, but each and every day.”

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Veterans Day celebrated at Flagler Auditorium

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